This definitive history of Roman art, architecture, and decorative art in the eighteenth century captures the grand scale and diverse artistic expression of the settecento—in oil and fresco, bronze and marble, terracotta and porcelain, drawings and prints, textiles, silver and mosaic, jewelry and furniture. The book covers the many public works projects by the century’s popes, including the Spanish Steps and the reconstruction of a number of churches, as well as the erection of palaces and other private buildings. The artists for these undertakings included not only major Italian figures such as Batoni, Panini, and Piranesi, but also Northern Europeans such as Abildgaard, Fuseli, and Mengs.
The first attempt to cover all aspects of artistic creativity from eighteenth-century Rome in one volume, the book is written by an outstanding array of scholars from around the world and is beautifully illustrated with more than 130 paintings, 50 sculptures, 100 drawings, 30 decorative arts objects, and 40 architectural designs. Three essays provide perspective on the period, while a lengthy illustrated catalogue section, detailed compilation of major artists of the period, and huge source list make substantial contributions to scholarship on this important transitional century.